Cathay Pacific Cadet Pilot Programme
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Hong Kong
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SW1
During my Stage 1 interview I met some guys who were doing Stage 3 on the same day. They told me that at the end of Stage 2, someone slips a letter under your hotel room door with your result. If you pass, you are asked to turn up at Cathay City the following day to do a list of things for Stage 3. The order in which you do things can vary, but as all Stage 3 items only takes half a day, you will have everything done quite quickly.
Stage 3 consists of your medical check, uniform measurement, ICAO english test and a management interview. I don't think you are given the result of any individual item, you just go home and wait for them to call you for grading.
Stage 3 consists of your medical check, uniform measurement, ICAO english test and a management interview. I don't think you are given the result of any individual item, you just go home and wait for them to call you for grading.
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northbound207
Thanks for sharing!
What scares me most is the fuel burn figures for a B777 from JFK-HKG. How are you supposed to know what figures are involved (alternate, contingency, holding etc.) and how much in each figure? Did they give you clues or something to start with?
What scares me most is the fuel burn figures for a B777 from JFK-HKG. How are you supposed to know what figures are involved (alternate, contingency, holding etc.) and how much in each figure? Did they give you clues or something to start with?
Join Date: Mar 2010
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SW1: Do you have any flight experience? If so which school in Victoria are you training at? I can answer any questions about stage 2 and 3 you may have, just PM me. The medical is done at stage 3 and consists of a chest x-ray, a blood test (HIV test), a large pee test (probably testing for all kinds of drugs in addition to the usual blood sugars), an audiogram, and the typical exam you see during a Cat 1 here in Canada. The doctor asked me if I had eaten any poppyseeds in the last couple weeks or if I had taken ANY drug including Tylenol or Aspirin in the previous two weeks. This is why I am certain that they must test for a gamut of drugs.
Mock 1: I had my stage 1 in March in Vancouver and it was almost exactly a month before I heard back. Have plenty of patience!
Holdmetight: The point is you aren't supposed to know those figures. If you do know them they will keep asking you harder questions until you don't know the answer at which point they just want to see how you work through a problem!
But, if you really want to impress them these were the numbers my interviewer used:
Fuel burn for 773ER: 8 t/hr
Alternate: Macau (15 minutes away)
30 minute reserve
3% contingency fuel
Mock 1: I had my stage 1 in March in Vancouver and it was almost exactly a month before I heard back. Have plenty of patience!
Holdmetight: The point is you aren't supposed to know those figures. If you do know them they will keep asking you harder questions until you don't know the answer at which point they just want to see how you work through a problem!
But, if you really want to impress them these were the numbers my interviewer used:
Fuel burn for 773ER: 8 t/hr
Alternate: Macau (15 minutes away)
30 minute reserve
3% contingency fuel
Join Date: Apr 2010
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Hey Holdmetight,
I didn't know the answer on the spot, so i think what BiggNBella said is right, just how you get through the answer. But the interviewer lead me through them quite well i.e. -How much fuel total do you think the 777 can take?
-how long is the flight?
-what is the fuel burn then?
So it wasn't too hard, I realized that I could've just used the fuel burn figures from the navigation exercise that happened earlier, since it was for a another similar jet aircraft.
As for how I knew what figures were involved, the interviewer asked me what i thought was involved as well, I missed contingency (never heard of it), so i started brain storming and the interviewer just gave it to me in the end.
Good luck Holdmetight, and feel free to ask any other questions, glad to answer any. When is your stage 2 again? hopefully meet up in HK sometime.
I didn't know the answer on the spot, so i think what BiggNBella said is right, just how you get through the answer. But the interviewer lead me through them quite well i.e. -How much fuel total do you think the 777 can take?
-how long is the flight?
-what is the fuel burn then?
So it wasn't too hard, I realized that I could've just used the fuel burn figures from the navigation exercise that happened earlier, since it was for a another similar jet aircraft.
As for how I knew what figures were involved, the interviewer asked me what i thought was involved as well, I missed contingency (never heard of it), so i started brain storming and the interviewer just gave it to me in the end.
Good luck Holdmetight, and feel free to ask any other questions, glad to answer any. When is your stage 2 again? hopefully meet up in HK sometime.
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BigglesNBella, northbound207
Thanks for the heads up! Sounds like quite a fun exercise, hopefully I'll enjoy it as well. I'm going to have my Stage 2/3 on 7th/8th September, perhaps I'll see you down in ADL if everything works out. 
Can you tell me a bit more about the flight planning exercise? I am aware it is different from the one I did 2 years ago, but no one has yet written anything specific on it (that I am aware of).
Can you tell me a bit more about the flight planning exercise? I am aware it is different from the one I did 2 years ago, but no one has yet written anything specific on it (that I am aware of).
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Any advice of what the best preparation is for the initial interview?
I believe the book 'preparing for your cathay pacific interview' is quite outdated, isn't it?
(I've read through the topic thread already
)
Thanks!
I believe the book 'preparing for your cathay pacific interview' is quite outdated, isn't it?
(I've read through the topic thread already
)Thanks!
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Hey,
Thanks for all the information provided. In reply to Biggles question, Im from London with a FATPL.
Do Cathay send out any information regarding what the day will entail? I understand there are group exercises, flight planning, maths test and ICAO test.
I attended the stage 1 which involved the usual JKI test, interview and reasoning test but with the addition of the WOMBAT test and personality assessment. Does this mean I wont have to to any more aptitude tests for stage 2?
By the way for all the fuel figures, have a look at JAR-OPS 1 and if you can get your hands on a 777 manual, from the internet, that might help with exact figures.
Thanks guys.
Thanks for all the information provided. In reply to Biggles question, Im from London with a FATPL.
Do Cathay send out any information regarding what the day will entail? I understand there are group exercises, flight planning, maths test and ICAO test.
I attended the stage 1 which involved the usual JKI test, interview and reasoning test but with the addition of the WOMBAT test and personality assessment. Does this mean I wont have to to any more aptitude tests for stage 2?
By the way for all the fuel figures, have a look at JAR-OPS 1 and if you can get your hands on a 777 manual, from the internet, that might help with exact figures.
Thanks guys.
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SW1
Yes they will send you a e-mail with details on Stage 2 and 3, though I think it will only come at a later date as they seem occupied with organizing what seems like a busy week in early September. I don't think Stage 2 involves any aptitude tests though, don't recall anyone speaking of doing aptitude tests then, nor has it been my personal experience either. I think the day is already fully packed, as it is!
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SW1
I attended the stage 1 which involved the usual JKI test, interview and reasoning test but with the addition of the WOMBAT test and personality assessment. Does this mean I wont have to to any more aptitude tests for stage 2?
I was wondering the same thing before my Stage 2. In my invitation email for Stage 2, it listed my itinerary to include an aptitude test. I took my aptitude test when I was in HK for Stage 1 already. But it turns out that email was just a generic email for international applicants. Those who did Stage 1 overseas had to do their aptitude test during Stage 2 since they didn't do it in their Stage 1.
But this was before the WOMBAT test came out, could be different now?
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I'm not sure what the WOMBAT test is since I did my stage 1 in Canada.
For us, stage 2 included a group exercise, a flight planning exercise, a personality type aptitude test(16PF), a HARD math test (GMA), a quick subtraction test (aptitude test), an interview and a hand eye coordination test (aptitude test).
For us, stage 2 included a group exercise, a flight planning exercise, a personality type aptitude test(16PF), a HARD math test (GMA), a quick subtraction test (aptitude test), an interview and a hand eye coordination test (aptitude test).
Join Date: Jul 2010
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WOMBAT
I had the WOMBAT, JKI, Interview, Harrison Test (Personality), and Reasoning Test at my Stage 1 interview in Vancouver just over a week ago. Apparently the WOMBAT test does not mean as much as everything else.
It is a very long 60 minute test, not including the 20 minutes they give you to read the manual and practice using the joysticks. My advice would be to read the manual the night before, that way you can get more practice using the joysticks with less reading. Also a word of advice that they never told some people in my group, when the screen turns black, that just means the screen savor came on and the test is still running so make sure you click something on the keyboard! I know someone who sat there with the screen black for 30 minutes while the test was still running! Leading to the fact that I dont think its that crucial, as well as the joysticks being so touchy, it has nothing to do with flying!
It is a very long 60 minute test, not including the 20 minutes they give you to read the manual and practice using the joysticks. My advice would be to read the manual the night before, that way you can get more practice using the joysticks with less reading. Also a word of advice that they never told some people in my group, when the screen turns black, that just means the screen savor came on and the test is still running so make sure you click something on the keyboard! I know someone who sat there with the screen black for 30 minutes while the test was still running! Leading to the fact that I dont think its that crucial, as well as the joysticks being so touchy, it has nothing to do with flying!
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I guess you could say that, minus the fact that there are no clearances, radio calls, checklists to do, and your working by yourself and not a crew! compared to Multi IFR, it was very different in my mind. And I think alot of people can agree with me that not every pilot out there can fly lol!
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You'd be flying a real aeroplane for it to be real isn't it?
It's just to asses your ability to cope with it.. no aptitude test is near the real thing.. thats why it's called aptitude and not IFR flying test
It's just to asses your ability to cope with it.. no aptitude test is near the real thing.. thats why it's called aptitude and not IFR flying test
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Interviews at HK
For those who flew to HK for 2nd/3rd interviews before (or now):
1./ how early did Cathay arrange you to arrive at HK in advance the interview day? Did most of you arrive just a day before the interview? My big concern is the jet lag that will affect my interview performance.
2./ how fast did Cathay arrange you to leave HK after the interview? Did Cathy make you fly back home next day after the last interview ?
3./ If you chose to arrive early, let's say 2 days in advance, to adjust the physical clock, Will Cathy cover the expense for your early stay?
1./ how early did Cathay arrange you to arrive at HK in advance the interview day? Did most of you arrive just a day before the interview? My big concern is the jet lag that will affect my interview performance.
2./ how fast did Cathay arrange you to leave HK after the interview? Did Cathy make you fly back home next day after the last interview ?
3./ If you chose to arrive early, let's say 2 days in advance, to adjust the physical clock, Will Cathy cover the expense for your early stay?
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to: Northbound207
Thanks greatly for listing the interview questions on stage 2 & 3. It is truly helpful and appreciated.
During the interview, how many interviewers were in the room? Is that one for HR and one for technical? Were you interviewed by the different interviewers in different stage of interviews?
Except the MATH and ICAO test, did you have to complete other exams/tests during stage 2 & 3?
Thanks again for the valuable information.
Thanks greatly for listing the interview questions on stage 2 & 3. It is truly helpful and appreciated.
During the interview, how many interviewers were in the room? Is that one for HR and one for technical? Were you interviewed by the different interviewers in different stage of interviews?
Except the MATH and ICAO test, did you have to complete other exams/tests during stage 2 & 3?
Thanks again for the valuable information.
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Eleong:
I landed in Hong Kong at 7am the day before my stage 2 interview and my original departure date was at midnight the night of my stage 3 interview. They covered two nights at the headland hotel. They were more than happy to postpone my outgoing flight by a day which allowed me to see more of the city. I did, however, have to pay for my room that night. It was only ~HK$700 though so not a huge deal. If you want to go early I'm sure they'd be ok with that except that again you'd need to cover the extra accommodation costs.
SW1:
As I told you via PM the math test (in fact all the tests) at stage 2 were on computers. There were no books with the title of the test on them. Just thought someone else reading this thread might have the same question.
I landed in Hong Kong at 7am the day before my stage 2 interview and my original departure date was at midnight the night of my stage 3 interview. They covered two nights at the headland hotel. They were more than happy to postpone my outgoing flight by a day which allowed me to see more of the city. I did, however, have to pay for my room that night. It was only ~HK$700 though so not a huge deal. If you want to go early I'm sure they'd be ok with that except that again you'd need to cover the extra accommodation costs.
SW1:
As I told you via PM the math test (in fact all the tests) at stage 2 were on computers. There were no books with the title of the test on them. Just thought someone else reading this thread might have the same question.
